Date: Mon, 9 May 2005 18:19:52 -0400
Reply-To: Don in North Carolina <Don_Dixon@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don in North Carolina <Don_Dixon@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject: Re: Syncro abuse (long)
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="windows-1250";
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Dave,
First thing, change your transaxle fluid (preferably to synthetic, e.g.
RedLine MT-90). When you drain the fluid, check for any metal in the
transaxle fluid or on the (magnetic) drain plug, what you find will
determine the next step...
Don in Reidsville, NC
1986 Kawasaki Concours
1988 Vanagon GL (Sylvia)
"I reject your reality and substitute my own." - Adam Savage
----- Original Message -----
From: "MilosKitchen" <sagmoore@ZOOMINTERNET.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Mon 09 May 2005 17:50
Subject: Syncro abuse (long)
> Argh,
>
> Through some colossal stupidity on my part, I managed to have my
> differential lock engage somewhere during my drive down Rt 79 and through
> Pittsburgh. It hadn't been working previously (since I've owned it) and
> the
> indicator light didn't come on (I'll be checking on that!).
>
> My first clue was when changing lanes, it felt like I was fighting a good
> crosswind. Later, on the interstate in town, it really became alarming
> when
> I had to take a rather tight LH sweeping turn and I really had to TURN the
> wheel to get her to come around (made a bad noise as well). I'm freaking
> out
> now, put on the flashers and crawled to the next gas station. Van made
> really horrible noises pulling into the gas station. Get out, look
> underneath, move the steering wheel while I look etc. At this point I just
> cannot figure out what the heck is going on. I get in and drive it another
> two blocks and have to turn hard right. Lots of protest and clanking. I'm
> thinking aggressive VC, should I pull over and take the drive shaft off.
> Then I remembered that I had squirted the diff lock shaft while I had the
> transmission out last week (still didn't work then). The heat from the
> first
> long drive must have loosened things up. (My bad for not checking that the
> vacuum connections were correct, I just put them back on the same way).
>
> Once I figured out what was going on, on a side street, I stopped and
> swapped the vacuum lines on the diff lock actuator. Reversed a little
> distance and then went forward, and all was better. I drove the rest of
> the
> way to work with no other expensive noises, and back home the 43 miles,
> everything feeling perfectly normal. I crawled underneath when I got home
> and can't detect any problems with the rear CV joints or driveshaft
> joints,
> and there are no holes blown out in the transmission case.
>
> I will never forget how that felt and so if it happens again, I'll sure
> know
> what the heck is happening right away. For the transmission experts, is
> there anything else I or a professional should be looking at, or should I
> just be glad nothing broke and not do it again?
>
> Ruefully,
>
> Dave Milo
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